Improvement in car-starters



*.ILH. GUACKENBUSH.

Can-Starters.

No.1506l0; l v i Patented May/5,1874.

l l l )Hmm t NITED STATES PATENT CEEIGE.

JESSE H. Q UACKENBUSH, OF EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JULIUS K. ROSE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-STARTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,610, dated May 5, i874; application filed March 13, 1874.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JEssE H. QUACKEN- BUSH, of East Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Car-Starters, of which the following is a specification:

Thenature of this invention relates to an improvement in that class of car-starters wherein a ratchet is secured to the wheel-axle, and is actuated by a pawl through the sliding movement of the draw-b ar in a forward direction. The invention consists in the peculiar combination of the balanced pawl with a slotted or yoke-shaped draw-bar, and a device for throwing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet on the aXle inthe forward movement ofthe draw-bar, and for withdrawing the pawl when the draw-bar is retracted by the drawspring; also, in the peculiar arrangement of the draw-sprin g with relation to the said draw bar, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a partial longitudinal vertical section of the platform of a horse-car, showing my car-starter in position. Fig. 2 is a seetional plan of the same.

In the drawing, A represents the bed of a horse-car, and B one of the axles, to which is keyed a ratchet, C, made in two parts, and bolted together around the axle. D is a drawbar, having a plate, D', bolted to one side under the ear, the ratchet coming between the bar and plate. The ends of the draw-bar pass througha stirrup under the platform at each end of the car. Between the axles a box, E, is bolted under the car-bed, through which box the vdraw-bar and its plate D play longitudinally. F is a T-shaped tappet, pivoted at a between the bar and plate, and to its top is bolted a pawl, G. The lower end of the tappet is inserted in a socket in a castiron block, H, which slides on the bottom of the box E. When the draw-baris pulled for'- ward this block is dragged forward by the tappet. The resistance offered to the latter causes it to tilt and throw the pawl into engagement with the ratchet-teeth of the wheel C to rotate the axle B, and thus start the ear forward with a leverage due or equal. to half the diameter of the said ratchet. Just before the draw-bar is pulled forward to its full limit of play, a projection, b, at the back end of the tappet, is arrested by a block, c, under the car, throwing up the front end of the pawl, as the car is then in motion. When the draw-bar is retracted by its spring the drag or resistance of the block H throws up the pawl and tilts the tappet, which remains in that position unt-il the draw-bar is a gain pulled upon.

The draw-springs, instead of being placed between the axles, as has been the practice heretofore, I arrange in the following manner: A rounded prolongation ofthe plate Dl forms a stem, d, upon which a spring, I, is spirally coiled between the shoulder of said stem and a block, e, under the platform, having a socket in which said steln plays. This arrangement places the'springs out of the way of the starting devices.

That I claim as my invention, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The tappet F, pivoted between the drawbar D and plate D', its lower arm engaged with the block H to slide in the box E, and the pawl G, in combination with the ratchet C, substantially as described.

2. The draw-spring I on the stem d, between l the draw-bar plate D and the block e, all coinbined substantially a`s described.

JESSE H. QUACKENBUSH.

Witnesses H. F. EBERTs, Unas. J. HUNT. 

